Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, from Somalia, has been denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup. The reason cited by the US Customs and Border Protection was Artan's links to 'suspected members of terror organisations', according to reports.
Despite this setback, Fifa has committed to paying Artan his full tournament fee. This decision has been welcomed by Artan and the Somali government, with the referee expressing his gratitude to Fifa and the Somali people.
Artan's career has seen a significant boost since the incident, with European football body Uefa appointing him to oversee the Uefa Super Cup match between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa in August. This is a prestigious honour for Artan, who was previously named Africa's referee of the year in 2025.
The decision to block Artan from entering the US sparked international outrage, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino addressing the situation at a press conference prior to the World Cup getting underway. Infantino urged people to 'chill, relax' and insisted that Fifa is constantly working on solving every issue that the competition has faced.
It is understood that Artan will still receive his full World Cup fee, which will be paid directly by Fifa. This decision has been welcomed by Artan and the Somali government, who are confident that the referee will be able to continue his career despite the setback.